As Krackor serves breakfast, Torvek closes his book and rise to join the group and eat.
"As discussed, we need to get the people back to the town. Unfortunately, that will take days.  I still think that some of us escorting them and some of us staying here is probably the best course of action.". Torvek waits for a moment to give a chance to others to make suggestions and making sure that Kitheras is in agreement. "How many people do you think are needed for the escort and how many should stay here?" he asks.

"Corym and I are good at hiding and spying.  Krackor, you would be very useful in these tunnels. Yngvar, I understand that you could change into a bird and fly.  This would be a useful for reconnaissance in the open.  Would you also be able to transport someone else with you if needed to speed up the return?", he asks

"Not really, not for very long in any case." he replies.

"I'll go with Yngvar.  Kora should come with us as well. We'll be certain to keep the people together and in good spirits this way.  Once we get them to the town, we'll return."

"Krackor--be sure to prepare to speak to the gnome we found here. Whatever he knows, its more than we know."

"Torvek, I assume the next couple of days will be like our time in Myth Drannor.  All stealth.  I'm going to prepare three invisibility spells, but I plan on holding one back for the end of the day to cast on myself before we sleep."

Krackor contemplates questions for the Gnome, he wasn't sure if his thought, earlier yesterday was warranted but it was still there. Was the Gnome a prisoner or perpetrator! He considers assuming a prisoner for now.

"Yes, stealth and movement for exploration.  With enough power to deal with encouters.  I am suspecting that the little man could be a dangerous mage of some sort but I am not sure where he is or how often he come here.  I am also thinking that this stairway is unknown to all outside and not related to the attacks on the town"

((ooc: Anything else folks want to do before you open the secret door again and get the group of ex-prisoners moving?))

"We don't have a good way to know if something came into the room overnight, do we?" asks Torvek.
"The injured should retreat towards the stairs, the other stay behind, weapon ready and one of us open the door " suggests Torvek as he looks for any alcove that would allow him some protection while watching the door opening.

Corym will wish his apprentice a safe journey, and exhort Kali to hurry back. To Yngvar and Kitheras he says with a wry smile, "Sehanine keep you safe. And may Erevan grant us mischief."

To Krackor and Torvek, "We'll be at half strength for at least three days. We avoid combat. Our mission is to gather intelligence and disrupt enemy operations--but survival is the highest priority. I have three invisibility spells prepared. I'll be casting one on myself now.  The other I hope to save for when we rest tonight. The secret room is our rally point, and [insert notable geographic location within half a day's walk] is our fall back point."

[Ready to go.]

"Thank you." he replies. "Do you wish me to go ahead to town and tell them we're coming so they can meet us part way in so we can get back sooner? I could carry a note as a bird and drop it off and get back too the group quicker." He says to them.

The secret door slides open, revealing the minotaur's room. At a glance, it seems unchanged from what it had been at the start of your sleep period. The blood has congealed, but the depth underground means there don't seem to be any insects to partake of the sudden bounty.

Stiff and sore, the former captives move relatively quickly behind the vanguard as you head back towards the exit. They're still hurt and somewhat weak, but they're moving at full speed and seem confident that they can maintain the pace. You hustle them through the massive hill giant room, where they had once been imprisoned, and then onward to the entry room.

Ogre corpses continue to lie scattered about the room. The dire wolf that has been following Yngvar darts forward to sniff here and there, then trots happily back to his side. Once through the ogre's room, there's the long, straight, sloped tunnel heading up. A dot of light appears ahead of you, slowly expanding into an arch filled with daylight. The mayor of Triel sobs, and is quickly shushed by the other prisoners.

You emerge into full daylight. The rain is gone, the sky is at least half blue, and it's warm enough to be comfortable traveling. Kitheras leads the group heading away up the trail along the side of the valley, while Corym, Torvek, and Krackor turn and survey the tunnel leading back down into the earth.

((ooc: The party is now officially split. Actions for each group, please. I also need someone in the "return to Triel" group to roll 1d10 twice, please.

Finally, who is the ioun stone going with? Kitheras and the refugees? Or Krackor and the home team?))

05:45, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 3 using 2d10 with rolls of 2,1.  Encounters. A 1 and a 2. – 3

As a last gesture before the returning group split off, Krackor touches Kitheras' shoulder and says "Take good care of that ioun stone, it'll help make the journey quicker, s you'll be able to return that much sooner. I want it back in one piece if you wouldn't mind" his infection grin brightening a sombre time. "Now get gone, bring some cheese and bread back with you."

With that, he waves, helps the last of them out with a gentle push,watches as they cross the first room, then closes the door behind them only to open once more "We'll be back at this door in 2 and then 3 days, it'll take you that long. Bang on the door if you can't magic yourself past it.

"Oh, I'll be coy and admit that survival is always one of my basic selfish motivation." Torvek answers to Corym with a smile before continuing with a more serious tone  "I have prepared a spell that would make us all invisible as long as you stay close to me.  We could use that for the night."

After they get out and go back to the giant room, Torvek scan the area looking a bit concerned.  "Hmm, something has happened in here overnight.  Looks like our actions from yesterday might have been noticed." he says as he looks around the room trying to figure out how such large things could have disappeared without leaving any traces that he could see.

OOC:
17:12, Today: Torvek Ragdar rolled 19 using 1d20.  Observation check (18)

((ooc: Thanks for rolling the d10's, Yngvar. Are you scouting ahead/in the air? If so, in what form?))

Yngvar will take the form of a hawk and carry a note on his leg to the town ahead that they were coming back with the survivors and asked the town to meet them on the way in. He doesn't fly in a straight line as he wants to see what is ahead on both sides of the trail so that they are not surprised.

Yngvar

Please roll an Int check for general scouting.

19:08, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 3 using 1d20.  int check. – 3 - Int 14

Yngvar

You stay close to the group as they make their way up the valley's face and emerge once again onto the rolling slopes of the Trielta Hills. The group tightens up from its previous straggling line, and begins the hike back to Triel.

Circling higher in the sky, you move out further to the south, but before you've flown very far you notice something moving. Peering closer, you see a tan fin protruding from the soil. It is slicing through the turf, leaving a distinct wake of disturbed dirt, and after a few moments you realize what it is: the exposed fin of a bulette, one of the vicious and voracious land sharks. It's not heading directly towards your group, but its path will take it relatively close. And there are several hills between it and them; they'll never see it in time.

"Shit, I gotta go warn the others." he thought to himself. He turns and flies back to the group and lands. He won't be flying no more today! "Kithras! There is a Bullette heading this way, if we stop and go quiet, he might pass us by. What do you think? He should pass on the other side of the next two hills. Unless he changes course." he adds.

"It's less a matter of overnight security, and more a matter of efficiency.  The invisibility spell lasts all day. If I cast it before I go to sleep I'll begin the day invisible and be able to prepare other spells."



"It's possible that they could have been animated by a necromancer, and merely walked away. They could have been illusions in the first place, and simply disappeared. The fact that the ogres--lesser giants--remain, but the true giants are gone makes me wonder if there was some religious or cultural significance."

"Krackor--lets see what the gnome gnows."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:16, Thu 14 Mar.

Krackor

Let me know what questions you want to ask the gnome.

Torvek follows Krackor and Corym to the gnome.

Feeling slightly vindicated bout the Gnome, Krackor's smile gros as he approaches the Gnome.

"Good sir, could you tell us what you know of this place, you must have seen a lot going on?"  He wasn't ready to say he thought this 'illusionist' tmcould have been working against them, a mastermind over the larger creatures!